U.S. patent number 7,748,537 [Application Number 12/211,722] was granted by the patent office on 2010-07-06 for lazy susan tray insert.
Invention is credited to Dawn Manger.
United States Patent |
7,748,537 |
Manger |
July 6, 2010 |
Lazy Susan tray insert
Abstract
A removable insert for Lazy Susan type rotatable tray having a
base with a continuous side wall, the base supported by a vertical
support post. The insert is wedge-shaped and has a curved contour
for engaging the tray post and side wall. The insert has a raised
perimeter, a variety of optional flat bottom walls with non-slip
feet at each corner. The bottom wall may be solid or have circular
cutouts having a diameter of about 21/2 inches to fit a beverage
can bottom end. A lid is provided to fit the raised perimeter. A
shelf with attached legs permits stacking of inserts. The insert
holds items, such as beverage cans, jars, and canned goods, upright
and organized and permits tray spinning for item access without
spilling or knocking over the items. The present device is durable,
space-saving, and reasonably priced.
Inventors: |
Manger; Dawn (North Haledon,
NJ) |
Family
ID: |
42306949 |
Appl.
No.: |
12/211,722 |
Filed: |
September 16, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/557; 211/78;
108/103; 211/131.1; 108/14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47B
49/004 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A47B
11/00 (20060101); B65D 1/34 (20060101) |
Field of
Search: |
;108/14,103,11,16
;211/131.1,78,71.01,107,49.01,59.4,126.1
;206/557,558,561,564,565 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Ackun, Jr.; Jacob K
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Crossley Patent Law Crossley; Mark
A.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A Lazy Susan tray insert comprising, in combination: a Lazy
Susan type rotatable tray having a base with a continuous side
wall, the base supported by a vertical support post, the side wall
having a first height; at least one removable substantially
wedge-shaped insert having a curved contour and three opposing
corners, the insert comprising: a raised perimeter having a top
edge, a bottom edge, and continuous side edge, the side edge having
a second height greater than the tray side wall first height, the
insert removably engaging the base, the support post, and the tray
side wall; a solid flat bottom wall conforming to and permanently
attached to the perimeter bottom edge, the bottom wall comprising
an interior surface and an exterior surface having a non-slip foot
at each corner; and a lid having an interior side and an exterior
side, the lid conforming to the size and dimensions of the
perimeter top edge and removably attached to the insert perimeter
top edge.
2. The Lazy Susan tray insert of claim 1 wherein the foot comprises
a first side removably affixed to the bottom wall exterior surface
and an opposing second side comprising a non-slip material.
3. The Lazy Susan tray insert of claim 1 wherein the foot comprises
a first side permanently affixed to the bottom wall exterior
surface and an opposing second side comprising a non-slip
material.
4. The Lazy Susan tray insert of claim 1 further comprising a shelf
slightly wider and longer than the insert and having the same shape
as the insert, the shelf comprising: an upper side; a lower side;
an identical leg permanently attached to and extending downwardly
from each corner of the shelf lower side, each leg slightly longer
than the second height of the insert raised perimeter, wherein the
legs permit the stacking of the inserts.
5. A Lazy Susan tray insert comprising, in combination: a Lazy
Susan type rotatable tray having a base with a continuous side
wall, the base supported by a vertical support post, the side wall
having a first height; at least one removable substantially
wedge-shaped insert having a curved contour and three opposing
corners, the insert comprising a raised perimeter having a top
edge, a bottom edge and a continuous side edge, the side edge
having a second height slightly greater than the first height, the
insert removably engaging the base, the support post, and the tray
side wall; and a bottom wall conforming to and permanently affixed
to the perimeter bottom edge, the bottom wall comprising an
exterior surface, a flat interior surface having a plurality of
cutouts therethrough, each cutout having a diameter of about 21/2
inches, and a continuous recessed wall corresponding to each
cutout, the recessed wall having a diameter equal to the cutout and
extending vertically downwardly slightly below the interior
surface.
6. The Lazy Susan tray insert of claim 5 further comprising a
non-slip foot attached to the bottom wall exterior surface at each
corner, the foot comprising a first side removably affixed to the
bottom wall exterior surface and an opposing second side comprising
a non-slip material.
7. The Lazy Susan tray insert of claim 5 further comprising a
non-slip foot attached to the bottom wall exterior surface at each
corner, the foot comprising a first side permanently affixed to the
bottom wall exterior surface and an opposing second side comprising
a non-slip material.
8. The Lazy Susan tray insert of claim 5 further comprising a shelf
slightly wider and longer than the insert and having the same shape
as the insert, the shelf comprising: an upper side; a lower side;
an identical leg permanently attached to and extending downwardly
from each corner of the shelf lower side, each leg slightly longer
than the second height of the raise perimeter, wherein the legs
permit the stacking of the inserts.
9. A Lazy Susan tray insert comprising, in combination: a Lazy
Susan type rotatable tray having a base with a continuous side
wall, the base supported by a vertical support post, the side wall
having a first height; at least one removable insert having a
substantially wedge-shaped, curved contour and comprising a raised
perimeter having a top edge, a bottom edge and a continuous side
edge, the side edge having a second height slightly greater than
the first height, the insert removably engaging the base, the
support post, and the tray side wall; a lid removably attached to
the insert perimeter, the lid conforming to the size and dimensions
of the perimeter; a shelf slightly wider and longer than the insert
and having the same shape as the insert, the shelf comprising: an
upper side; a lower side; and an identical leg permanently attached
to and extending downwardly from each corner of the shelf lower
side, each leg slightly longer than the second height of the raise
perimeter, wherein the legs permit the stacking of the inserts.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Various food containers, including rotatable trays, with removable
components and compartments, have been developed in the past.
However, what is needed is a removable insert for a Lazy Susan type
rotatable tray having a base with a continuous side wall, the base
supported by a vertical support post, the insert having a
substantially wedge-shaped, curved contour to engage the tray base,
post, and side wall and further having a raised perimeter, and a
variety of optional bottom walls having optional non-slip feet, a
lid, and a shelf which has corner legs for stacking the
inserts.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present Lazy Susan tray insert provides a removable insert for
a Lazy Susan type rotatable tray having a base with a continuous
side wall, the base supported by a vertical support post. The
insert has a substantially wedge-shaped, curved contour for
engaging the tray post and the tray side wall and further has a
raised perimeter, a variety of optional flat bottom walls with
optional non-slip feet. A bottom wall may provide a plurality of
circular cutouts having a 2%-inch diameter, thus sized to
accommodate a beverage can. A lid may be provided which covers the
insert. A shelf having corner legs may also be provided to permit
stacking of inserts. The insert is designed to keep items, such as
canned goods and jars, stored thereon in an upright position and to
spin the Lazy Susan tray to conveniently and easily access a
particular item stored thereon without spilling or knocking over
the items. The present device is space-saving and assists in
kitchen organization and, in addition, is durable, and reasonably
priced.
As such, the general purpose of the improved Lazy Susan tray insert
which has all of the advantages of the prior art mentioned
heretofore and many novel features that result in an improved Lazy
Susan tray insert which is not anticipated, rendered obvious,
suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in
combination thereof.
Thus has been broadly outlined the more important features of the
improved Lazy Susan tray insert so that the detailed description
thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the
present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
The objects, features and advantages of the improved Lazy Susan
tray insert will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in
the art upon reading the following detailed description of
presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of
the improved Lazy Susan tray insert when taken in conjunction with
the accompanying drawings. In this respect, before explaining the
current embodiments of the improved Lazy Susan tray insert in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and arrangements of
the components set forth in the following description or
illustration. The invention is capable of other examples and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. It is also to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for purposes of description and should not be regarded as
limiting.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this
disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of
other structures, methods, and apparatus for carrying out the
several purposes of the improved Lazy Susan tray insert. It is
therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such
equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
Objects of the improved Lazy Susan tray insert, along with various
novel features that characterize the invention are particularly
pointed out in the claims forming a part of this disclosure. For
better understanding of the improved Lazy Susan tray insert, its
operating advantages and specific objects attained by its uses,
refer to the accompanying drawings and description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a top isometric view of an embodiment having a flat
bottom.
FIG. 2 is a bottom isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of another embodiment providing
cutouts.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.
3.
FIG. 5 is an in-use front elevation of the embodiment of FIG. 1
with a cutaway view.
FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.
FIG. 7 is an isometric view of still another embodiment providing a
shelf.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular FIGS. 1
through 7 thereof, examples of the employing the principles and
concepts of the present Lazy Susan tray insert, generally
designated by the reference number 10, will be described.
Referring to FIGS. 1 through 7, the present Lazy Susan tray insert
10 provides a Lazy Susan type rotatable tray 11 having a base 12
with a continuous side wall 14, the base 12 supported by a vertical
support post 16, the side wall 14 having a first height 18. A
removable substantially wedge-shaped insert 30 is provided. The
insert 30 has a curved contour. The insert 30 has three opposing
corners 32. The insert 30 provides a raised perimeter 34 and a
solid flat bottom wall 44. The raised perimeter 34 has a top edge
36, a bottom edge 38, and continuous side edge 40. The side edge 40
has a second height 42 slightly greater than the tray 11 side wall
14 first height 18, the insert removably engaging the base 12, the
support post 16, and the tray 11 side wall 14. The bottom wall 44
has an interior surface 46 and an exterior surface 48. The bottom
wall 44 conforms to and is permanently attached to the perimeter 34
bottom edge 38. Instead of being solid, the bottom wall 44 may have
plurality of circular cutouts 50 therethrough and a continuous
recessed wall 52 corresponding to each cutout 50, the recessed wall
52 having a diameter equal to the cutout diameter and extending
vertically downwardly slighting below the interior surface. The
cutouts 50 have a diameter of about 21/2 inches to permit a
beverage can 90 bottom portion 92 to removably snuggly fit therein.
The bottom wall may also have a non-slip foot 60 at each corner 32.
A lid 70 may also be provided. The lid 70 has an interior side 72
and an exterior side 74. The lid 70 conforms to the size and
dimensions of the perimeter 34 top edge 36 and is removably
attached to the perimeter 34 top edge 36. A shelf 80 may also be
provided. The shelf 80 has the same shape as the insert 30, has
three corners 32, and is slightly wider and longer than the insert
30. The shelf 80 has an upper side 82 and a lower side 83. An
identical leg 85 is permanently attached to and extends downwardly
from each corner of the shelf 80 lower side 83.
The insert 30 holds miscellaneous items 95, such as beverage cans
90, jars, and canned goods, upright and organized and permits tray
11 spinning for item 95 access without spilling or knocking over
the items 95. The present device 10 is durable, space-saving, and
reasonably priced.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized
that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the
present apparatus, to include variations in size, materials, shape,
form, function and the manner of operation, assembly and use, are
deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and
all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings
and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed
by the present invention.
Directional terms such as "front", "back", "in", "out", "downward",
"upper", "lower", and the like may have been used in the
description. These terms are applicable to the examples shown and
described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely
used for the purpose of description in connection with the drawings
and do not necessarily apply to the position in which the present
invention may be used.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the
principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications
and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is
not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within
the scope of the invention.
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